Bridging the Gap: Student Success in a Summer Bridge Program Charles Lu, Ph.D. Anthony Heaven, M.Ed. Carmen Mercedez, M.A. Ashley Stone, M.S.Ed. Agenda Ø 
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Background Program Structure Outcomes Next Steps Why Summer Bridge? Ø  Initiative from the Provost Office started to provide
incoming freshmen with tools and resources to
jumpstart their first year on campus.
Ø  Offered during the second summer session at UT
Austin, which runs from July to August
Ø  Participants receive a fully funded academic
experience that’s grounded in community and
provides a head start on life as a Longhorn
Ø  Launches students into freshman year by becoming
familiar with college life, campus resources and more.
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Benefits of Summer Bridge Ø  Participating students receive the Summer Bridge
Scholarship (worth up to $5,000)
Ø  *Most students take one math course and one
composition course (earn up to 6 credits)
Ø  Receive an additional $1,000 scholarship at the end of
the summer upon successful completion of courses with
a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Ø  Live on campus with other Summer Bridge students,
building a vibrant learning community.
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Background of Summer Bridge 2013-­‐Summer I -­‐Pilot year -­‐100 students –half STEM/half HumaniOes 2014-­‐Summer II -­‐250 students – STEM heavy -­‐One central contact person -­‐Graduate assistants were not introduced unOl orientaOon – -­‐Cohort leaders had their own “case” load and reached out prior to student arrival no cohort model -­‐Faculty luncheon in the spring -­‐Pre-­‐Calculus and English/WriOng courses offered -­‐MulOple and Oered support systems -­‐Free tutoring, workshops, and social engagement opportuniOes provided -­‐Courses tailored to majors -­‐Student mentors were available at 1:8 raOo -­‐Average Fall GPA was 2.6 -­‐Opening session set expectaOons -­‐Social media used – Twi^er, Instagram, Facebook -­‐Weekly newsle^er -­‐Student mentors at 1:15 raOo -­‐Average Fall GPA was 3.0 Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Partnerships Ø  Provost Office – Enrollment and Graduation Management
Ø  B6 Student Success Programs
Ø  New Student Services
Ø  Financial Aid
Ø  Admissions
Ø  Registrar
Ø  Academic Departments
Ø  Texas Success Initiative
Ø  Division of Housing and Food Services
Ø  Sanger Learning Center
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Student Recruitment Ø  3 rounds of recruitment started in
March
Ø  Priorities
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TSI Barred Students
Under 40% and Under 1250
Under 40% and Over 1250
Over 40% and Under 1250
Ø  No exceptions were made for courses
Ø  Orientation was mandatory
Ø  Students must be in-state*
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Courses Ø  College of Natural Sciences
Rhetoric 306 or 309
Statistics
Ø  Engineering
Calculus + Supplemental Instruction
Ø  Liberal Arts
Rhetoric 306 or 309
Physical Science 303
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Cohort Structure Ø  5 cohorts (50 students each)
3 STEM*
1 Engineering
1 Humanities
Ø  Each cohort had 3 mentors
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Cohort ResponsibiliAes Ø  Cohort leader registered students for
classes, ran Monday area meetings,
and Friday curriculum meetings. Served
as liaison between faculty and SB
leadership.
Ø  Each cohort had 3 mentors
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Summer Bridge Workshops Ø  Summer Bridge curriculum meetings
focused on academic and personal
development
Ø  Summer Bridge area meetings were
created based on individual cohort
needs
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Mentor Projects Ø  Mentors facilitated their own
curriculum meetings that
complemented the GA Workshops
Ø  They were the first line of contact
with their 15 assigned students.
Ø  Ran two socials with their mentor
groups
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Social Engagements Ø  Opening Banquet
Ø  Mentor Group Socials
Ø  Fall Learning Community Socials
Ø  Closing Awards Ceremony
Ø  Summer Bridge Pool Pizza Party
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Social Engagement Ø Canoeing at Zilker Park
Ø Austin City Segway Tour
Ø Ice-cream Social
Ø Bowling
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Outcomes Ø  247 of 250 students persisted to the Fall semester
u 1 dropped due to GPA
u 2 dropped due to student emergency
Ø  Average GPA for Summer was 3.5 compared to 3.7
the previous year
Ø  93% of students received the merit award
Ø  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BBQ0_htKgY
Ø  http://us8.campaign-archive2.com/?
u=1cbe3182df554fb80cdbff6ad&id=9cf797c219
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Next Steps 2015-­‐Summer III -­‐Protocol for students dropping out -­‐Ceremonial send-­‐off to Fall success programs (B6) -­‐Invite B6 to Summer Bridge orientaOon -­‐Improving mentor facilitaOon skills -­‐ConOnue differenOated meeOngs -­‐SB faculty will teach second of two-­‐course sequences in the Fall Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps Contact InformaAon Charles Lu – [email protected]
Background Structure Outcomes Next Steps